Regardless of whether you are a full-time motorhome user or merely a seasonal user, there are times you will need to preserve your motorhome. There are various reasons you could be storing your VR. For instance, you could be leaving for a vacation, attending a work conference or meeting or just traveling to interact with your family. Leaving your motorhome behind is not just about putting things in order, locking the door and hoping to return to find everything in the same order.
Storing your RV involves clearly outlined procedures aimed at maintaining its state as well as enhancing its durability. Your motorhome is probably your most fabulous piece of investment, and therefore you should be keen to protect it by primarily storing it in the correct condition and manner.
But how do you preserve your motorhome correctly while still ensuring it’s secure? Below are vital storage tips you should try.
1. Parking your Motorhome
Preserving your motorhome begins by choosing the best parking spot to park your VR during the off-season. Depending on the period you are planning to preserve your motorhome along with your budget, there are a variety of options to choose as parking spaces. If you are considering an indoor storage facility, then you should be ready to spend even more.
Nevertheless, to cut on the storage cost, you may want to store your VR at home especially if you have an extra parking space on your garage or driveway. Most homes are however suitable for storing Class B and Class C motorhomes and may not be ideal for a Class A motorhome due to their massive sizes. Preserving your motorhome at home saves a great deal of money in the long run in addition to offering sufficient security.
After deciding a suitable spot whether in the garage on the driveway, the next thing to do is to perform the actual parking which sometimes can be complicated. If you are going to park your motorhome for a long haul, it’s vital to consider the parking spot’s elevation and the weight distribution especially if you are parking on the driveway. If your VR is wrongly parked on a slope, the weight will be unequally distributed putting the axles along with the exterior and interior components especially the refrigerator at high-risk damage. Therefore, when parking your motorhome, it’s vital that you ensure the parking spot is level and away from trees.
2. Preparing your Motorhome for Storage
After establishing a suitable parking spot, the next thing is to prepare your motorhome for the long haul. There are various ways you can prepare your motorhome involving the interior, the exterior, and the chassis.
Interior Preparations
When a motorhome is stored for an extended period, it’s common for rodents and other pests to invade the interior and feed on leftovers, in turn, destroying the interior’s wiring, rubbers and other components resulting in costly damages. This can, however, be prevented be extensively preparing the interior prior to storage. Some of the interior preparations you should carry out include:
- Remove all food from the storage compartments and clean the RV to eliminate all food remnants that attract rodents and other pests.
- Clean the refrigerator and defrost the freezer compartments. A good idea is to place baking soda in the compartment to absorb any odors that may be coming out
- Turn of the central power supply system and also the LP gas supply unit
- Leave cabinets and drawers open to prevent breeding of pests.
- Drain all tanks including the fresh water, gray, and black water tanks especially if winter conditions are expected.
- Ensure that all gaps and holes are sealed with silicone or foam to prevent rodents from getting into the interior.
- Allow for ventilation by leaving some water-impermeable vents open.
- Leave the toilet bowl with some water to keep seals lubricated
Exterior Preparations
When stored outside, your motorhome is susceptible to wear attributed to constant exposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and toxic gases on the Ozone. If the exterior preparations were not carried out effectively, with time the exterior paint fades causing the rubber and vinyl to dry leading to cracks and reduced durability. This can, however, be averted via through exterior cleaning before storage. In regions with high air contamination level, it may be essential to wax the exterior using a quality wax specially formulated for you VR’s exterior. Ensure that you clean the awning fabric making sure it completely dries before storing the VR. Also, check the exterior for any cracks or openings that will allow water in and use silicon to seal them if noted.
It is advisable to consider purchasing a breathable car exterior cover big enough to fit your motorhome especially when have decided outdoor storage. This will prevent your VR from the unfavorable outdoor weather.
Preparing the Chassis Preservation
It is also crucial to prepare the chassis for the extended storage as it’s also a vital part of the motorhome. Start by inflating the tires to the recommended pressure and then cover them with a fitting tire cover to prevent damage by the sunlight. You may want to place a wooden block or a heavy piece of rubber between the tires and the ground to avoid damage caused by a heated or frozen ground or tarmacked surfaces which tears the tires with time. To avoid internal damage of the tire, ensure that no part of the tire hangs over the block on the surface, i.e. the block should be large enough to accommodate the entire tire surface.
The battery should also be prepared for storage. There are various ways you can maintain the battery including plugging them out, hooking them to an exterior power source such as a small solar panel to trickle charge them and ensure they are topped off. It is also critical to regularly check the batteries water level and charge.
If you are preserving your motorhome during the winter, there are important preparations you should carry out. First, ensure that you add a fuel stabilizer to the fuel tank and run the engine to avoid freezing of the entire fuel system. Secondly, change the oil and oil filter before storage and finally store the batteries in places you are sure they will not freeze.
3. Securing your motorhome
After finding a suitable parking spot and preparing your motorhome for preservation, the final thing you should do is to secure it especially if you have parked it on your driveway. Securing your VR begins by ensuring that all your valuables are removed and the entry doors and windows are closed and locked. You may also consider installing security systems such as alarms, motorhomes security devices and CCTV around the VR. This option may, however, be costly, but it’s worth it.
Not Ready to Preserve your Motorhome?
You can hire your motorhome is you are not ready to store it and earn a great deal of money. You can employ motorhome rental service platforms to find someone within your locality or region in need of a VR and hire them instead of storing as it adds no value to your investment.
Conclusion
Your motorhome is a great investment piece, and you certainly don’t want to lose it through improper storage. You can choose to store your motorhome at home either at the garage or on the driveway or hire a storage space which may end up being costly. Regardless of where you store your motorhome, these preparations are crucial to ensure the durability of your “portable home.”
